The schedule for the 49th California International Antiquarian Book Fair (Pasadena, February 12-14, 2016) has been announced, and it promises to be fascinating. Although the main attraction of the California Book Fair is, as always, the opportunity to search through the collections and rare treasures brought to Pasadena by the more than 200 exhibiting booksellers from over 30 different countries -- and buy a few rarities to complete your own collections -- the organizers have planned a host of interesting and educational activities for the fair weekend. Focus on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lecture: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: How One Small Girl Changed the World -- An Illustrated Talk by Chris Loker. On February 13th, the Bibliographical Society of America will host ABAA-member and author (One Hundred Books Famous in Children's Literature) Chris Loker (Children's Book Gallery) when she talks about Lewis Carroll's landmark book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The lecture will be illustrated with numerous photographs showing how Alice, one of the most enduring characters of our time, has indelibly marked children's literature, illustration and popular culture. (Saturday, February 13 at 1:00 pm) Panel discussion on collecting Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Participants to be confirmed, moderated by Patt Morrison. (Saturday, February 13 at 3:00 pm) A Wonderland of Books: A special exhibit at the 49th California International Antiquarian Book Fair will be a selecti... [more California Book Fair 2016]
Promotional literature is an underappreciated area full of fascinating ephemera and colorful images of a golden age that may never quite have existed except in the minds of civic boosters and advertising executives. Now that the campaign for tourism dollars is largely fought online, the tools of promotional literature are changing; but collectors can find a fascinating bric-a-brac of tri-fold brochures, postcards, glossy pamphlets, and colorful posters if they know where to look. Elizabeth Svendsen of Walkabout Books in Laguna Hills, CA, specializing in the literature of travel and adventure, is an enthusiastic collector of California promotional material. I'm new here in the Golden State. I didn't come here for the climate, or for my health, or to chase dreams of wealth by mining for gold or growing oranges or olives or grapes. Mine is a typical 21st century tale—my spouse got a new job, and I packed up my Ohio-based book business and came along for the ride. But ever since I arrived and started poking around in bookstores, antique malls, and the many wonderful flea markets in the greater Los Angeles area, I've been captivated by the literature and images that drew people here a hundred or more years ago. Once people arrived, it seems they couldn't stop showing off how lucky they were to live in a place where every day is warm and sunny and—as long as there's water—flowers and fruit grow in abundance all year round. Every town—from rural farming community to growing ... [more Collecting California Promotional Literature]
Alice is 150 years old, so of course, she deserves to be celebrated all over the world. Among the fetes is a special exhibit at the 49th California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena, CA (February 12-14, 2016). Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is arguably one of the most-influential children's books. It certainly has inspired a diverse group of writers, artists, filmmakers, collectors, and the like. Among those collectors are Dr. George Cassady and his wife Linda, who donated and endow The G. Edward Cassady, M.D., and Margaret Elizabeth Cassady, R.N., Lewis Carroll Collection at the University of Southern California. Named for his parents, the collection includes more than 3,000 rare books, manuscripts and objects created by or about beloved children's author, mathematician, and writer Charles Dodgson (1832-98), better known by his nom de plume Lewis Carroll. Highlights from their collection will be featured at the upcoming book fair, including rare Alice books, the novel in translation, and a variety of artists' interpretations from Salvador Dali's surrealist Alice to Mary Blair's 1951 concept drawings for Walt Disney Studios. Of course, the most beloved illustrations of Alice were those created by John Tenniel in black and white for the first edition. Although most people think of Alice's puffed sleeve dress with pinafore as being blue, did you know that this was not the original color of the dress? The first colored versions of Tenniel's illust... [more Alice at 150]
There are many rare book fairs of varying size taking place around the country in January and February. Whether you are a beginning collector of an old hand, book fairs are a great opportunity to inspect the offerings of a great many dealers, hunt for elusive books and ephemera, and meet like-minded bibliophiles. Papermania Plus Antique Paper Show When: Saturday January 9, 10am-5pm and Sunday January 10, 10am-4pm Where: Hartford, CT Info: http://papermaniaplus.com/ Note: Free Appraisal Day (Sunday, 11am-2pm) “Bring in an item related to the context of the show and we will be glad to have one of our many exhibitors assist you with finding out about your 'treasure'!” Greater Los Angeles Postcard and Paper Show When: Saturday January 9, 10am-5pm and Sunday January 10, 10am-4pm Where: Glendale, CA Info: http://www.postcardshows.com/Glendale.php Austin Book, Paper and Photo Show When: Friday, January 15, 6pm-9pm and Saturday, January 16, 10am-5pm Where: Austin, TX Info: http://www.texasbooksellers.org/austin-book-paper-photo-show Paper Town: The January Vintage Paper, Book & Advertising Collectibles Show When: January 23, 9am-3pm Where: Boxborough, MA Info: http://www.flamingoeventz.com/show-calendar/24-boxborough-paper-town-the-original-vintage-paper-book-advertising-collectibles-show-ii.html Note: “Antiques Appraisals 12-2pm by John Bruno, Star of Market Warriors” San Francisco Book, Print and Paper Fair When: Friday February 5, 11am-7pm and Saturday February 6, 10am-5pm... [more Upcoming Antiquarian Book Fairs]
In 1941, Knopf published Theodore Roethke's first collection of poetry, Open House, in a hand-numbered edition of 1000 copies. The book was lavishly praised and launched Roethke's brilliant career, which led to a Pulitzer Prize (The Waking, 1954) and two National Book Awards (Words for the Wind, 1959, and The Far Field, 1965). The Theodore Roethke Museum in Saginaw, Michigan, has decided to mark the 75th anniversary of Open House's publication with an "online census" to attempt to track down every surviving hand-numbered copy of Open House, and collate the stories of the various volumes and their collectors. OPEN HOUSE - A Volume of Poetry (Limited Edition) New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1941. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. A very nice copy of this rare Roethke title in a dustjacket with some soiling on the front cover and a small chip at the head of the spine. This is copy # 605 out of the limited edition of only 1,000 books. (Offered by William F. Hale Books) The museum vice-president, Mike Kolleth, told Fine Books & Collections the goal of the project is "to ignite conversation about Roethke's poetry." ABAA-member Jett Whitehead, whose speciality is modern poetry, assisted the museum in launching the project. When asked for comments about the project, Whitehead said: "For several years I've been rewarded with opportunities to work with various organizations regarding book related projects and exhibits. Some of the most fun and rewardin... [more Calling All Theodore Roethke Fans]
Some of the most-expensive books in the world are going on tour. The Folger Shakespeare Library is sending several First Folios to partner institutions around the country -- one in each state -- so people can view the famous books upclose and personal. WIlliam Shakespeare's First Folio is a remarkable thing. Compiled just seven years after the great man died, the Folio (so-called because of how the book was printed — “When two leaves (four pages when printed on both sides) were printed on a sheet so that it could be folded once, collated with other folded sheets and bound, the format of the volume was a folio." — from the ABAA Glossary of Book Terms) was created by two actors who knew Shakespeare and would have had access to original drafts (referred to be the delicious term “foul papers” as they would have presumably been covered in handwritten edits, notes, and all manner of marginalia, rather than pristine, printed texts), transcripts prepared for the actors, or official prompt books from the original productions. If not for this book, those various copies would have likely been scattered and lost, and more of Shakespeare's plays could have been lost to time. For such a famous and influential book, there are few copies left in existence. Perhaps 750 copies were printed in 1623. Only 233 are known to exist today. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to an unrivaled collection of Shakespeariana, including 82 of the surviving First Folios. Comed... [more First Folio on Tour]
Over the course of a year, the various ABAA bloggers write frequently about the significance of individual books, their rarity, their historical significance, and occasionally their value. However, far more often the significance of a rare book is much more personal and idiosyncratic. For many of us, the thrill of the hunt or the surprise of the find makes books memorable, and book collectors are far more likely to have stories of books unexpectedly found in unlikely places than items of great value. Rebecca Rego Barry's new book, Rare Books Uncovered, is dedicated to the stories of the favorite finds, the books discovered in unlikely places that collectors remember years, even decades later. Barry -- whose day-job is as editor of Fine Books & Collections Magazine -- has interviewed dozens of collectors and booksellers -- including a great many ABAA members -- about their most-memorable finds. The stories are all short essays, and I imagined I might dip into the book from time to time and read it over a week or two. In fact, I read it cover to cover in a single sitting. Barry conveys the enthusiasm of each collector and their excitement about their discoveries is palpable. The pages turn easily, and left me with the urge to trawl through used bookstores and estate sales instantly. While there are many tales of obscure 16th-century manuscripts kept under sofas or found in estate sales, Barry's correspondents also also provide many examples of valuable or rare books being found... [more Rare Books Uncovered: True Tales of Fantastic Finds]
"The Grolier Club Collects II" is an exhibition of books, manuscripts and works on paper drawn from the international membership of the Grolier Club, on show at The Grolier Club in New York City from December 9 through February 6, 2016. Terry Belanger, Founding Director of the Rare Books School, gave this poetic address at the opening of the exhibition, on which occasion he was also invested as the Poet Laureate of The Grolier Club. (Note: For each item Belanger cites, the lender's name can be found to the left, including quite a few ABAA members.) Proem Collecting isn't shopping. Discipline Is key: lack it and you're flying blind. What subjects are you interested in? Whatever they are, they need to be defined, The titles rare, perhaps one of a kind, Or printed skillfully, with illustrations, Or nicely bound in calf, and gilt, or signed: For what's the point of sprawling aggregations Of books that could be picked up cheap by one's relations? 1 Rare books can cost the earth – unless they don't: Taste, not cash, is crucial for cohesion. Want it? A modest checkbook balance won't Rule out an acquisition you believe in. Must-have books are never out of season; You're not required to be a millionaire. Collecting's rationalization over reason: Purchasing what you think's passing fair Resulting in a book to treasure and to share. 2 Jean Grolier was a royal tax inspector, Treasurer-General to the King of France, Celebrated as a book collector: A man of means, well-suited to enhance ... [more A Sentimental Library: Grolier Collects II]
Randall House Rare Books is pleased and proud to have successfully completed negotiations for the sale of two unpublished Charlotte Brontë manuscripts to the Brontë Society in England. The discovery of the manuscripts is called “extraordinary” by Brontë expert Dr. Juliet Barker who went on to say "It's so unusual to get unpublished manuscripts in this day and age. To find an unpublished one like this - that we had no knowledge of its existence - is extraordinary." Dr. Barker wrote the seminal history of the Brontë Family. She has further stated that there is no question about the authenticity of the material. The manuscripts and other autograph material are in a book that belonged to Charlotte's mother, Maria, titled “The Remains of Henry Kirke White” by Robert Southey. The boat carrying Maria's belongings, including this book, prior to her marriage to Patrick Brontë, suffered a shipwreck but were recovered. On an inside page in the book there is a Latin inscription, in Patrick Brontë's handwriting “the book of my dearest wife and it was saved from the waves. So then it will always be preserved.” The manuscripts consist of a short story fragment and a poem. The short story is set in 1833 and written in the pseudonym of “Lord Charles Wellesley” one of Charlotte's favourite male alter egos. The writing is, according to Dr. Barker “a satirical take on life in Haworth .” The poem is set in the fantasy world created by the Brontë children, including her ... [more Unpublished Brontë Manuscripts Brought to Light]
The ABAA has recently approved several new members, all of whom have successfully proven themselves to be, in the words of the ABAA Guarantee, "established, knowledgeable, and of excellent reputation." These new members were sponsored by existing members, and have undergone a rigorous screening process. We welcome the newest members of the ABAA. Full Members Charles Bartman of Charles G. Bartman, Bookseller, Louisville, KY Michael Fagan of Michael Fagan Fine Art & Rare Books, Newton, MA James Gray of James Gray Bookseller, Princeton, MA Heather O'Donnell of Honey & Wax Booksellers, Brooklyn, NY --Heather O'Donnell got her start in rare books in the stacks of the Beinecke Library, where she was a curatorial assistant during her grad school years at Yale. After three years in the Princeton Society of Fellows, she left academia to pursue the rare book trade full-time, working in the New York gallery of Bauman Rare Books. In the fall of 2011, Heather launched Honey & Wax Booksellers in Brooklyn, specializing in literature and the lively arts. She is a graduate of the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar and Rare Book School, a member of the Grolier Club, and the founder of the annual Brooklyn Holiday Book Fair, now in its fourth year. Marco Panella of Auger Down Books, Brattleboro, VT --Marco Panella is a bookseller based in southern Vermont. He specializes in music, scholarly non-fiction and books on the arts. A longtime bibliophile, he studied history and photography at Brown Univ... [more New Members]